Blair Taylor Named CEO of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

In April, Blair Taylor will officially become the new CEO of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBKA).

Launched in Spring 2015 as an independent effort of President Barack Obama?s My Brother?s Keeper initiative which was created to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure all youth can reach their full potential, MBKA was recently led by Former Deloitte CEO, Joe Echevarria. He formed MBKA with a group of like-minded peers, as an opportunity to elevate the conversation, and utilize strategic, evidence-based interventions from community, private, and social enterprise partners that tackle the achievement?gaps from cradle to career.

Taylor currently serves as chief community officer at Starbucks and president of the Starbucks Foundation Board of Directors. In his current role, he leads Starbucks? community investments and programs. ?Over the past four years, Blair and his teams have contributed to its long-standing social impact efforts, including the College Achievement Plan Solutions City(SM) initiative and the launch of the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a coalition of more than 35 companies committed to hiring 100,000 Opportunity Youth by 2018.

“Blair has brought new ideas and a steadfast focus on improving the lives of Starbucks partners and the communities where we live and work. ?And, we are excited to work with him in his new role as he leads MBKA in directions that are very aligned to our efforts around Opportunity Youth,” said Vivek Varma, executive vice president, Public Affairs at Starbucks. ?Prior to joining Starbucks, Taylor served for seven years as President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League. He is credited with transforming the agency through innovative nation-leading community engagement programs, such as Neighborhoods@Work?, a holistic community reform model.

“This is an incredible opportunity and I am elated to assume this role at this important time.? I am very grateful to the MBKA Board for their vote of confidence and indebted to those who have poured their hearts into this work. I will continue to bring a sense of urgency to this effort, along with years of experience and a genuine understanding of the power of collaboration. We will build upon the initial work and plans of MBKA, and do so with a renewed emphasis on measuring success and helping communities to achieve tangible results,? Taylor said about his new post.

The incoming Chairman of the United Way of King County and the current Chairman of the Board and founding Board Member for LeadersUp, Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he recently completed a six year term as a trustee. He also holds an M.B.A. in marketing and entrepreneurial studies from UCLA?s Anderson Graduate School of Management.